We’ve created an ebook! Local crop nutrition strategies, informed by recent research, are what we aim for. Leading researchers toured eastern Australia in 2016 to speak at on-farm workshops. Detailed discussions on each day helped bridge local needs and new science. We published a string of articles in 2016 to […]

Crops may source much of their nitrogen (N) from in-crop mineralisation (ICM) of soil organic matter. Of total crop N at harvest, an estimated average 63% came from ICM in a recent Victorian study. Total crop N includes grain, straw and roots. Root N is about 10% of grain and […]

Do you want to help with crop nutrition research? One of the GRDC’s latest research projects (UQ00082) needs nutrient deficient trial sites. The trial sites will help develop guidelines for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) and sulfur (S) for broad-leaved crops in eastern Australia. For cereals, we know […]

New science topped the agenda at the 2017 Australian Fertilizer Industry Conference. Fertilizer Australia hosted the conference in Torquay, Victoria. Of the many presentations, the following two papers are relevant to Australian growers and crop nutritionists. Phosphorus and soil biology Dr Cassandra Schefe works with Monash University. Her research investigates microbe […]

Soils naturally form layers, and when nutrients concentrate in an area it’s called stratification. Soil type and agronomic practices affect stratification. Stratified nutrients can be a problem when nutrients are concentrated somewhere crops can’t access when they need them. Mobile nutrients such as Nitrogen and Sulphur can form bulges below […]

The Hansen’s crop up to ninety percent of their mixed farm at Coomandook, SA. They grow canola, wheat, barley, lupin, oaten hay and lucerne. There are variable soil types across the 8,500 hectare property. It ranges from red sandy loam over clay and limestone, to deep, infertile, non-wetting sands. Variable soil […]

Potassium (K) is being gradually removed from Australia’s cropping soils. Since 2002, average crop yields have increased but K fertiliser use has remained static at around 180 kt K/yr. Soil K reserves declined an average of 4 kg K/ha/yr over the last 20 years. Most cropping paddocks have received no […]

Large areas of West Australian cropping soils have low potassium (K) reserves. Acidity also constrains most of these soils. Potassium deficiencies have become more widespread with intensive cropping, removal of hay or stubbles, and K fertiliser inputs lower than removal rates. James Easton is the Field Research Manager with CSBP […]

Congratulations to Rob Norton, who last night received an award recognising his long contribution to the Fertilizer industry, from Fertilizer Australia. Rob, the Regional Director of the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI), is also the chair of extensionAUS’s crop nutrition Community of Practice. The award was presented at the conference dinner for the 2017 […]